_ DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY | 
‘DURHAM, N.C. | 


OF THE 


PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH | 
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: FROM 
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THE BISHOPS OF THE SAME, 


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ASSEMBLED IN CONVENTION IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, THIS 


| 2478 DAY OF MAY, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD ONE THOUSAND 


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BRETHREN, 

AnoTHER triennial Convention enjoins on us the 
duty of another Pastoral Letter, agreeably to the 
forty-fifth Canon. | 

During the session, our attention has been seri- 
ously occupied by the reports from the church in 
the different states, made to the house of clerical and 
lay deputies, and by them submitted to our perusal. 

A prominent event conspicuous in them, is the 
organization of our church in the-state of Ohio; and 
the extending to it of the episcopacy: a measure which 
had been contemplated in four conventions, and is at 
last happily accomplished. It is not the state of 
Ohio only, to which we anticipate resulting benefit: 
but it is the whole of the western territory; over the 
extent of which there are scattered members of our 
communion, to whose wants the urgent claims of des- 
titute congregations in the Atlantic states have pre- 
vented ministerial supplies. We may now hope to 
see the evil remedied, by the educating of ministers 
among themselves: since what has been accomplish- 
ed has a tendency io this effect also; not only by sa- 
ving the trouble and the expense of long journeys for 
ordination, but by the engaging of the zealous endea- 
vours of the Right Reverend Bishop, and of the few 
clergymen who have migrated from the eastern side of 


PS4a?? 


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4 


the mountains, for the furnishing of candidates with 
suitable opportunities of preparation. 

In the last general Convention, it was highly gratify- 
ing, that there had been such an organization of the 
church in North Carolina, as entitled them to be re- 
cognised in that character. On the present occasion, 
our satisfaction has been increased by the appear- 
ance of two clerical and one lay deputy from that part 
of the union; and still more by finding from the re- 
port before us, that there is a good prospect of the 
stability and the increase of our church, where it had 
been so long prostrate. Ba 

Another source of satisfaction to us, is, that when 
the District of Maine, took its station in the union in 
the character of a state, there was a sufficiency of 
the members of our communion, for an organization 
as a diocesan church. We anticipate, in” orn 
increase of this distant part of our communion. - 

We go no further in remarks on the details of the 
report, as it describes the condition of the church in 
the various states: any further than to express our 
satisfaction at the encouragement which it supplies, 
and at the prospects which it opens, with our wishes 
that they may be realized. 

The report concludes with a call on the sil of 
bishops, to.declare their sense on two interesting sub- 
jects—the carrying into effect of the provision of the 
Rubrics relative to public baptism, there being un- 
derstood; the excepfion of cases of “ great cause and 
necessity,” and the qualifications of sponsors. 

On the first of these subjects, we give our opinion, 
that it is the duty of the clergy, in their respective 
cures, to endeavour by argument and persuasion, to 


5 


accomplish a strict conformity to the Rubric: and 
we know not on what principle it can be dispensed 
with, except on that admitted in all jurisprudence 
ecclesiastical and civil—prevalent and long custom, 
not censured by those whose office it is to call to ac- 
count for the violation of law. In the present case, 
the toleration of the departure from the Rubric in our 
mother church of England, for a long course of pre- 
ceding years, and generally in the United States be- 
fore and since the revolution, has weight on the pre- 
sent question. 

‘It is worthy of notice, that between these two 
countries there is a great difference of circumstances 
operating against a strict observance of the Rubric 
in our case. In every part of Engiand, there is easy 
access of the people to their minister, in the public 
performance of the service of the church; whereas, 
in consequence of the scattered residence of a great 
proportion of our episcopalian population in numer- 
ous districts of the United States, it is difficult and 
often impossible for people to bring their children 
very many miles for the purpose of their being baptiz- 
ed; or even to present them for reception after pri- 
vate baptism; which of course will be the whole re- 
ceived by them: and this, although an entire baptism, 
is short of what was contemplated by the Rubric. 

These are considerations, which make us hesitate 
to aim at a degree of discipline, found to be unattaina- 
ble in our parent charch, although so much more 
favourably circumstanced for such an object. They 
are, however, what would have no weight with us, 
had the necessity of public baptism been enjoined on 
us by the word of God. This is not the case; as is 


P34477 


6 
attested by St. Philip’s baptising of the eunuch, recor- 
ded in the eighth chapter of the Acts; by the narra- 
tive of the baptism of St. Paul, in the ninth chapter; 
by that of Cornelius and his household in the tenth, 
and by that of the jailer and his family in the six- 
teenth. 

However weighty these facts, they do not Sane 
us insensible to the reasons, on which public bap- 
tism was introduced by ecclesiastical legislation, at an 
early period of the church. Accordingly, we again — 
hold up to the conscience of every minister, the duty of 
his endeavouring to induce to it by argument and by 
persuasion. But we hesitate to enjoin strict conformity 
to the Rubric, when we know, that the consequence 
wouldbe the leaving of a great proportion of therising 
generation unbaptized; and the surrendering of ano- 
ther great proportion of them to the being baptized 
under circumstances, which would tend to attach 
them to communions differing from our own. 

On the other question, the qualifications of spon- 
sors, we have in the first place to remark, that, in 
the service, there are made very solemn appeals to 
the consciences of those who answer for achild: such, 
that if they can reconcile themselves to false profes- 
sions in this shape, it does not appear, why they need 
to hesitate to extend the falsehood further. Indepen- 
dently on this, we should fear to authorize the minis- 
ter’s scrutiny into the movements of the mind of the 
party, which would make an inquisitor and a tyrant 
of every minister, whose constitutional character 
might incline him to the taking of such a stand. 

In any case in which an infant may be presented by 
a person who is an “open and notorious evil liver,” 


7 


the fact being known to the minister, with such evi- 
dence as that he can commit his conscience and his 
character on the issue, we think that the rejection 
would be laudable, and indeed a duty. But we do not 
earry this matter so far, as might be an incitement to 
the minister to hazard the incurring of the guilt of 
slander; perhaps to the putting of himself in danger of 
legal punishment: for although we suppose our courts 
to have great indulgence to the plea of the conscience 
of a clergyman, when its dictates are grounded on 
the institutions of his church; yet, where no such 
sanction can be perceived, but rather a contrariety, 
we think it probable, that there cannot be an inquiry 
into the private lives of people, without its being fol- 
lowed by very unhappy consequences. 

How far it would be expedient to require that the 
sponsor should be a communicant, may be thought 
deserving of consideration. Both rubrics and canons 
are silent, as to this point: so that if the minister 
should exact such a condition, it would be a passing 
of the limits of his authority. If it should be held, that 
the state of the church is such as to render the expe- 
dient desirable, it should be by a concurrent act of 
the two houses. But we doubt of the expediency 
of this, in the present circumstances of the church; 
when there are so many, who are kept from the ho- 
ly communion by prejudice and by misapprehension. 
We rejoice in what we know of the gradual decline 
of this restraint, from the most unequivocal form in 
which the profession of the name of Christ can be 
made before the world. Perhaps it may be thought, 
that the expedient now in question would tend to the 
same desirable issue. We are persuaded of the con- 


a 


trary; and having witnessed the bad effects of all mea. 
sures of this sort which will bear the appearance of 
denunciation or of exposure to public censure, and 
knowing that they have a tendency to the reverse of 
their designs, we wish on this point, as on the other, 
that there may be wielded no other arms than those 
of argument and persuasion. 

We will conclude our remarks on both the sub- 
jects with stating, that our attention having been cal- 
led to them by the representatives of the clerical and ~ 
the lay deputies of our church; the occasion has been 3 
fraught with the advantage to us of a free comparing 
of our respective experience; and the consequence has 
been unanimity, in this fan. delivery of our resulting 
opinion. 

It seems to have been expected of the house of bish- 
ops, that in their triennial address, they should present 
to the consideration of their fellow-members of the 
church, some subject or subjects called for by exist- 
ing circumstances. We wish to bring forward, on the 
present occasion, what may be called the evangelical 
doctrine of our church; not as detached from her mo- 
ral requisitions, but as including them; yet in opposi- 
tion to every scheme which affects to do honour to 
the latter, by disparaging or dispensing with the other. 
There is no point, which it more concerns her to 
maintain, or that more distinguishes her from many 
human institutions, directed perhaps to laudable ends, 
but not claiming to be divine establishments, and 
therefore subjected to the determinations of human 
prudence. 

The subject might be branched into a great variety 
of particulars, but we shall confine our view to the 
evidence of the property affirmed, and to the result of 


9 


it on our ecclesiastical concerns: and let it be remark- 


ed, that whatever may be the ground proper to be oc- ~ 


cupied on these points, they concern not the clergy 
only, but all whose religious states may depend in any 
degree, on the instructions which the clergy are to 
deliver. 

In the display of the evidence of the evangelical 
character of our church, there will be no necessity of 
tracing the sentiment through all her doctrines and 
all her services; although on all of them the proper- 
ty in question has a discernible influence. It willbe 
sufficient to delineate a few prominent truths of scrip- 
ture, as professed by her in explicit terms; and to ap- 
peal, for the rest, to her unimpeached consistency of 
profession. 

One of the truths which we present, as born witness 
to by our articles, and not by them only, but by innu- 
merable passages in our prescribed devotions, is the 
natural state of man in the apostacy: as being that of 
alienation from God, not only in the forfeiture of im- 
- mortality annexed to his original creation, but in a de- 
terioration of his nature, in consequence of which its 
properties, in themselves suited to the purposes of his 
being, run wide of their appropriate uses; except so far 
as they may be restrained by worldly motives, having in 
' them nothing of religious affection; or else subjected 
to a principle originating not in nature, but in a dis- 
pensation succeeding that which ended in Paradise. 

We do not know, in what terms our church could 
have declared her sense more explicitly, than in those 
adopted by her. She begins her series of the doctrines 
of grace, by laying down the point of original sin; that 
is, the sin attached to our origin: according to which 

B 


10 


the first man forfeited, for himself and his posterity, 
the gratuitous gifts which might have been originally 
denied to him without injustice, and conditionally held 
by him until his apostacy; and further, became subject 
to want and to disease, and to the temptations incident 
to them; and thereby to a natural tendency to sin. 


Although our church considers the progeny of — 


Adam as destitute of religious affections, and at the 


same time possessed of properties, which for want of ~ 


the restraints of such affections, and because of expo- 


sure to temptation, have a tendency to all evil; yet she 


has not announced the many opinions which human 


ingenuity has founded on the premises. While we 


see no cause to acknowledge any defect in her institu- 


tions in this particular; we lament any representations 


of them, which make abatement from her decision, 
that man “is far gone from original righteousness”™* 
and is of his own nature inclined to evil. 

Another doctrine of our Church, and what is a 
consequence of that already stated, is the utter ina- 
bility of man, by any act or endeavour of his own, to 
recover from the privations of the apostacy. She 
could not have expressed herself in stronger language, 
than when she says—“ The condition of man, after 
the fall of Adam, is such that he cannot turn and 
prepare himself, by his own natural strength and 
good works, to faith and calling upon God: where- 
fore, we have no power to do good works pleasant 
and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by 

* Some prefer the Latin copy, which has “ quam longissimé,” 
in English, “as far as possible.” On the ground taken, there 
can be no objection: entire destitution of religious affections be- 
ing aftirmed. However, the English article is of the mostauthor- 


ity, being the act of the earliest reformers, and not rendered into 
Latin until the reign of Elizabeth. 


* ie 
= 


e. cei ae 


11 


Christ preventing us, that we may have a good will, 
and working with us, when we have that good will.” 
When the articles were formed, there was an espe- 
cial call for this explicitness; because of a species of 
A pretended ability set up, by which the mind might 
prepare itself for grace, which could not be denied 
consistently with congruity: and this led to the notion 
of a further measure of grace, thefruit of the grace be- 
fore given, and therefore now claimable on the ground 
of condignity. In contrariety to this curiously wrought 
theory, our Church teaches concerning even the pre- 
paratory exertions spoken of, that they proceed from 
grace bestowed on the part of God, and submitted to 
and improved on the part of man. This view of the 
Subject, devests him of every pretence for trusting in 
his own strength: the vanity of which is fully estab- 
lished by consciousness of frailty, and by the ineffica- 
cy of mere resolution for the encountering of the temp- 
tations of the world; at the same time, that it abounds 
with incitements to the encouraging of every holy 
thought, and for the carrying of every good desire 
into effect. The contrary is the resistance of an agen- 
cy, the discontinuance of which would render our 
condition desperate. - 

While each of the truths stated is big with improve- 
ment, especially attaching to itself; they combine in 
establishing as a third truth, what the church teaches 
in’another article,—that “we are accounted righteous 

before God, only for the merits of our Lord and Sa- 
viour, Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for our own 
works or deservings.” The truth is laid down in few 
words, but is amplified in one of the homilies, which, 
on that account, is referred to in the article, for a more 
full disclosure of the sense entertained concerning 


12 y, 
this subject of the highest importance. While it ap- 
pears from the homily, that there is a disclaiming of 


merit, as attaching to any action which can be per- . 


formed by man, faith is discoursed of, as containing 
in itself the seed or principle of every religious grace, 
and, of course, as manifesting itself in the conduct. 
This bars all pretence of approach to the solifidial 
scheme; whether shewing itself in the undisguised 
shape of antinomianism, or rendering this a natural 
although unperceived inference from a mistaken me- 
thod of magnifying the grace of God in Christ. So 
that if we compare the eleventh article, with the ho- 
wnily on salvation or justification, we shall perceive 
the consistency of what the church says in her 
twelfth article,—-that “although ‘good works, which 
are the fruits of faith, and follow after justification, 
cannot put away our sins, and endure the severity 
of God’s judgment; yet are they pleasing and accep- 
table to God in Christ, and do spring out necessarily 
of a true and lively faith; insomuch that by them a 
lively faith may be as evidently known as a tree dis- 
cerned by the fruit.” There is entire consistency, 
in the affirming in the most unqualified terms, of ac- 
ceptance only through the merits of the Redeemer; 
and yet, in defining the end of the acceptance to be, 
the bringing to the state of mind which will manifest 
itself in a holy life and conversation. This is the dou- 
ble head of instruction, in the passage in which it is 
said—“ who gave himself for us, that he might re- 
deem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a 
peculiar people, zealous of good works.” 


We have stated only a few, and them with brevity, © 


of what we name the evangelical principles of our 
church. That they are few, is owing to their being 


i 


13 


so far sufficient, as that they cannot consistently be 
held in alliance with any opinion, dissonant from the 
truth that salvation is of grace. Our brevity, is ow- 
ing to the desire which we entertain, of noticing prin- 
cipally the result of the principle on our ecclesiasti- 
cal concerns: the existence of the principle, being 
considered as a matter hardly liable to be denied or 
doubted of. . ; 

First, There is no truth more prominent in scrip- 
ture, or that more deserves to be.kept in view in our 
meditations on its contents, than what is affirmed 
where it is said—“ that your faith should not stand 


in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God:” that 


is, not seem to rest on the former ground, because it 
is a foundation too slight for the superstructure; but 
maintaining its place on the latter—a revelation es- 
tablished by an omnipotent agency. If so, consisten- 
cy dictates the position, that christain doctrine and 
christain morals should go hand in hand, for the ae- 
complishing of their common object, the reformation 
of mankind. The imperfection of the moral system 
of the wisest among the heathen, is so clearly resolva- 
ble into the corruptions of their theology, that if there 
could be proved to have been among them any know- 
ledge of God and of his attributes independently on 
revelation, of which however we entertain doubts, it 
would still follow, that the morals of christianity are 
essentially dependent on the disclosures which it 
makes of the divine economy in redemption. In ad- 
dition to this, there is the notorious fact, of a deteri- 
oration in the principles and in the conduct of every 
body of men, from whom, in any country professedly 
christain, the scriptures are concealed, or suffered to 


14 


ot 
be only partially communicated, in consequence of a 
corrupt policy; and of the other description of per- 
sons, who desert the standard of Christ nin enlist 
under that of infidelity. 1) Te 

These considerations prove that thete is an inti- 
mate connexion between the truths and the duties of 
our holy religion. Let it be acknowledged, that mor- 
al perfection, comprehending the state of the affections 
as well as the exterior of the conduct, is the ultimate 
end to which all religion should be considered as sub- 
servient. Still, taking into view the human character 
on which the dispensation is to operate, we may pro- 
nounce, that it will never accomplish its intended ef- 
fect, independently on the high truth, that “ God was 
in Christ reconciling the world unto himself.” 

In giving expression to our sentiments on this sub- 
ject, we would be far from countenancing that love 
of speculation, which leads to the display of ingenui- 
ty in unprofitable controversy. Equally far would we 
be from countenancing the cast of character, which 
does not look either for instruction or for edification 
in religious mquiries, otherwise than through the me- 
dium of the agitation of our animal mechanism. Fur- 
ther, we wish to guard every conscientious professor, 
against the speaking disparagingly of moral worth. 
In its strict meaning, it implies a right state of the 
inward man: and in its extent, it comprehends what- 
ever is an imitation of the holiness of God. But there 
is an imperfection in language, which has occasioned 
the use of the word morality, as if it were no more 
than the being free from outward and flagitious sin. 
To deny the sufficiency of this for the constituting of 
acceptableness with God, is certainly the indispensi- 


15 


ble demand of evangelical truth. But in doing this, 
there is need of caution; lest the unwary hearer should 
be led to low conceptions of duties, resting on the dou- 
ble ground of reason and revelation; considering ma- 
terial deficiency in them as made amends for, by the 
occasionally possessing of warm feelings of devotion. 
We have been mourning witnesses of’ the bad conse- 
quences of this, in its sanctioning of the want of go- 
vernment of the passions, and in its being a hindrance 
to the good offices which the social relations call for. 

We have even reason to fear, that, as in a certain 
species of superstition, the stated performance of ap- 
pointed acts of external devotion, is a mean of re- 
conciling to the conscience all intermediate devia- 
tions from the divine law; so, a similar effect is pro- 
duced even by inward sensibilities of the animal or- 
ganization, in their being a palliative for a like laxity 
in some one or another of those offences against 
christain morals, which cover themselves under a 
pharisaical profession. 

Hitherto, the subject has been spoken of generally, 
and without a special reference to the exercises of 
the pulpit: but, its bearing on these is too important, 
as well to hearers as to preachers, not to be particu- 
larly attended to. 

Therefore, secondly; If the ground taken be cor- 
rect, there should be frequently laid before congre- 
gations, with the suitable proofs and illustrations, the 
truths of the gospel the most prominent, and such as 
it cannot be devested of, without its being left a mere 
collection of moral precept, and a thread of historic 
record. We esteem it an advantage, that there is the 
appointed observance of certain days, to which those 


ea 


16 


subjects are peculiarly appropriate: for although the’ 
pastor of a congregation ought not to need such incite- — 
ments to so unquestionable a duty; yet it may be of 
use to them both, to have so distinct a call to subjects, 
which might otherwise be in danger fics regar- 
ded too slightly. We do not mean to intimate, that 
these are the only occasions, on which the truths re- 
ferred to may be at large stated from the pulpit; much 
less would we imply, that they are not to be disco- 
verable, except when made the professed ig at of | 
discourse. 

For this reason we go on to remark, thirdly, that 
if a minister should explain to his flock any passage ~ 
of sacred history, or, if he should define and incite 
to the attainment of any religious grace, or if he 
should delineate and exhort to the practice of any 
of the moral duties; in each of these departments, and 
in any other that might be named, there opens an’op- — 
portunity of explaining, of proving, of illustrating, and 
of persuading in such a manner, as shall show an in- 
fusion of the virtue of evangelical truth, into the dis- © 
cussion of every topic. In an especial manner, the 
motives to duty shew this dependence on the spirit 
of the system. There can be no reasonable objection, 
to the proposing of motives resulting from moral_fit- 
ness and from the dictates of prudence: Saint Paul 
himself having thought it worthy of his notice, tohold 
up to view “the promise of the life that now is.” 
But the force of this will be feeble, unless we go on 
with him to “the life that is to come.” The hope of 
the latter cannot be proposed with such evidence as 
shall render it “ an anchor to the soul, sure and stead- 
fast,” except as it is furnished by the dispensation — 


ing 
which “hath brought life and immortality to light.” 
Bot the dispensation must be taken in its full scope; 
since otherwise, the light is wanting, by which the 
life and the immortality are assured to us. 

We are now entering on a subject of considerable 
delicacy: but it is forced on us by the preceding train 
of our reflections. The subject is—do the clergy of 
this church, in their ministerial exercises, give suffi- — 
cient manifestation of their being under the influence ~ 
of what we have shewn to be the evangelical spirit of 
the communion. In consequence of our own engage- 
ments, we are imperfect judges on this question: but 
we grieve, when we hear of deficiency in this par- 
ticular; warranting the charge, that the desk and the 
pulpit are at variance. We bear our solemn protest 
against inconsistency of this description. We hold up 
to all our brethren of the ministry, what we conceive 
to be their and our duty in this matter. And we feel 
consolation in being in possession of a liturgy, which 
continually sends forth its protest, not only against 
error, but against suppression of material truth; and 
which, even as used by an unfaithful pastor, has some- | 
times preserved a hearer from being misled by him, 
or from being ignorant of the truths on which he is 
silent. 

We cannot but know, that the distinction between 
evangelical and merely moral preaching is often mis- 
applied to discourses, which sustain christain morals 
in alliance with the ground of them; in the truths of 
the ever blessed gospel: for there are some, who con- 
found with the latter systems of human fabrication; 
and some who deem nothing evangelical, that stops 
short of the extravagances of enthusiasm. There are 

c 


18 


many such instances, each of them contradictory to 
all the others; and all of them, wide of the simplicity 
of scriptural truth. The sincere minister of the gos- 
pel, may derive profit from what he hears and sees 
of this description: since he may be admonished by 
it, to be the more definite and the more earnest in 
inculcating what is thus perverted and abused. In 
-doing this, he cannot too carefully regard an admo- 
nition, given by a venerable prelate long since deceas- 
ed, to certain American missionaries of his day. They 
had been accused to him of not preaching the truths 


of the gospel. Without presuming the justice.of the — 


accusation, of which no evidence had been transmit- 
ted to him, he advised them to be the more attentive 
to the preaching and the clearing of the truths, which 
had been misrepresented or misapplied by others. The 
prelate, was Archbishop Secker; than whom there 
was none in his high station, who had been more at- 
tentive to the concerns of the then infant churches 
of our communion. 

The weight which ought to be allowed to the ad- 
monition of that eminent person, may be estimated 
by the fourth consideration to be now offered, the in- 
terest which should in reason be taken in the sustain- 
ing of the point proposed by us in this address. 


It ought to be sufficient for the purpose, that the 


losing of sight of it has astrong tendency to infideli- 
ty: to which, we think it leads by a process of the 
mind not easily prevented. That the scriptures say 
much of the character of the divine author of our re- 


ligion, of his being a sacrifice for sin, of the benefit 


of his redempticn, and of the need of it in the state 
of man, is what even a superficial reader of them can 


19 

hardly fail to have remarked. But if these are to be 
overlooked, under pretence of respect for the sancti- 
ty of christian morals, it seems to follow, that, the 
world being in possession of the latter, we are but 
little concerned in the question, by what channel of 
communication we have become possessed of them: 
any more, than if a like question were to be raised 
in reference to the instructions of the heathen sages. 
It is true, as we have already remarked, that chris- 
tian morality is not long sustained in its integrity, 
when it has become severed from christain doctrine. 
But the deterioration is induced gradually, and with- 
out men’s being aware of the inconsistency of their 
profession in this respect. Were this not to happen, 
the severance must at least take away the sanction 
of divine command, than which there is no other mo- 
tive sufficient to the resistance of human passion, and 
to be.a,counterpoise to the temptations of the world, 
In short, it was set forth by Christ in the beginning, 
that “ the gospel of the kingdom should be preached 
in all the world, for‘a witness unto all nations.” It is, 
therefore, to be taken in its full latitude, and cannot 
be narrowed by any expedient, which will not at last 
destroy it. 

Accordingly, there is another motive to the taking 
of a deep interest in the subject: we mean, that wher- 
ever there is the separation here censured, it disqua- 
lifies the discourses of the pulpit from being any con- 
siderable mean of the conversion of sinners. This is 
a fact, which may be confirmed to us by observation. 
The fact may be accounted for, from the genius of 
the christian system: for, as there can be no conver- 
sion of the heart from sin, withouta beginning in repek- 


20 


tance and humiliation; and as these would be fruit- . 
ful of despair, unless met by the consolations which 


the gospel only can supply; the removal of the truths 
of the system must be a bar to reformation, and to 
the means by which it is to be accomplished. 

We do not doubt, that the consolations of the gos- 
pel are often brought home to the awakened heart, 
by the edifying matter of our common prayer. But, 
when thisis done independently on aid from wholesome 
instructions of the preacher, he is without an agency 
in any good which may be thus achieved; and not 
only so, there it lost, through his insufficiency, the in- 
fluence of.an important institution appointed by divine 
wisdom for the salvation of mankind. It will be in 
vain, that we may be told of the tumults of passion, 
which are sometimes produced by a zealous preach- 


ing of the gospel. When this happens, it is owing to © 


errors unhappily associated with the’ truth. Even 
then, although the effects are often evanescent, yet in- 
stances occur of sinners thus converted from the er- 
ror of their ways: which shows, how much more last- 
ing benefit may be accomplished by the same truths 
as declared in the gospel; but proclaimed to sinners 
in such terms, ‘as shall cause them to reach their 
hearts through the medium of their understandings. 
Let saint Paul be attended to, giving a lesson-as to 
this point. He could not have delivered a more com- 
plete code of morals, than when he stated that of 
christianity, to be “the living soberly, righteously, and 
godlily in this present world.” And yet, he began 
with laying the ground-work of this exhibition of 
christian morals, in the “grace of God to all men,” 
which had “ appeared.” 


ee 


21 


Further, we wish another motive to be considered 
as well by the laity as by the clergy; by both as af- 
fecting the consistency of their profession, and by 
the latter, as adding to this a failure of fidelity pledg- 
ed under the most solemn promises, on their enter- 
ing into the ministry. The motive, is that the said line 
of separation,drawn between christian doctrine and 
christian morals, is one of the most effectual means 
which could have been devised for the producing of 
the decline, and at last the destruction of this.church: _ 
which indeed ought not to be lamented, on the sup- 
position of the correctness of the distinction made; 
because there will be the obvious inference, that she 
teaches, with great zeal, many things which are ir- 
relevant to the spiritual and everlasting happiness of 
men. We see no inducements to such severance, in 
any instances which are brought to our recollection . 
of religious communion formed with an accomoda- 
tion to the principle. We rather consider such asso- 
ciations, as opening an easy passage to infidelity. 
Still, there may be consistency between the profes- 
sion and the practice. But when persons so dispos- 
ed insidiously intrude into the ministry of our church, 
there is a difference in the twocases; like that between 
poison, so placed as that it may be mistaken for me- 
dicine, and the same substance insinuated into the 
constitution, and preying on its vitals. 

While we are sustaining the evangelical character 
of our church, and tracing the effects which it should 
produce as well on the laity as on the clergy of her 
communion, we would especially impress on the con- 
sciences of the latter, the engaging in this part of their 
work, with a degree of zeal suited to its impor- 


22 


tance. The truths of the gospel may be correctly 
preached, while there is nothing in the matter or in 
the manner of the discourse, nor yet in the life and 
the conversation of the preacher, indicating a controll- 
ing ascendency of the truth over his affections. We 
would be far from estimating his character, in pro- 
portion to the degree of animal fervor either in his 
public or in his private exercises. We learn from the 
highest authority, and we see or hear of frequent 
verifying of the position, that there is “a zeal not ac- - 
cording to knowledge.” What is worse, there may be 
a settled cast of character, moulded to the temporary 
feelings attendant on the hasty judgment of two of the — 
disciples of our Saviour, when they would have “ call- 
ed down fire from heaven,” on the inhospitable in- 
habitants of a Samaritan village. Even when a man 
is “ zealously affected in a good thing,” and when his 
zeal is manifested in the sacred desk, and on subjects 
suited to it; however laudable this, and however ne- 
cessary in a due degree to the evincing of his sinceri- 
ty; itis impossible, that the degree should give a rule 
of measurement of the integrity of his mind: because, 
not knowing his heart, we cannot minutely perceive 
its movements; and because, so deceitful is the heart, 
that the agent himself may not be aware, in whatde- _ 
gree the love of applause, or the love of rule, or some 
other frailty of nature, may associate itself with a 
general wish to promote the glory of God and the 
good of his fellow men. Thus, if it be not the dead 
fly that spoils the precious ointment of the word, yet 
it is a weed from nature’s sour soil, causing a disre- 
lish of the fruits of grace. 


’ 
« ee 


23 


For this reason, although we approve of all well 
tempered zeal in instructions delivered from the pulpit, 


and indeed, consider the absence of it as a proof of 


indifference stamped on the character of the instruct- 
or; yet we see a more unequivocal test of the purity 
of this affection, in habitual conversation seasoned 
with the salt of divine grace, unalloyed by vanity or 
by ostentation; in vigilance for opportunities of speak- 
ing a word in season; in reproof, so administered as 
not to be liable to the charge of arrogance, or of the 
love of censure; and in consolation conveyed under 
the various states of mind, which cannot but be often 
laid open to every minister of the gospel, who is qua- 
lified for such occasions, and who feels an interest in 
promoting the spiritual welfare of the applicants. We 
know, that a minister may be occupied in such em- 
ployment, without the eclat which is sometimes atten- 
dant on very moderate talent, put forth to public view 
in the exercises of the pulpit: but while we know not 
how far the one is associated with vanity, either as its 
cause or as its effect; the other resolves itself into 
the sole cause of ministerial fidelity; and points te the 
effects of an approving conscience in the minister, 
and of edification to the people. 

The result of the considerations which have been 
detailed, is a solemn call to be now made by us on 
the members of our church generally, and especially 
on her clergy; onthe former, to sustain, in their re- 
spective spheres, the character of the communion 
which has been displayed: and to be on their guard 
against any professors under the name of church- 
men, who would be thought to have in their hands 
the lamp of their profession, although they have 


eingaid itof its i Loc ceadibtlah 
tion, we be apt hesitate to peat Le hat 


atials of christian 
doctrine under the i image ‘“ “ofa fou. other 
than which no man. can lay,” and he hastrepresent- __ 
ed instructions of various sorts, under the fignre of 
materials laid on that foundation, differing in. y 
respective | value: as “ gold, silver and precious stones” 
on the oné hand, differ from “ wood, hay and stub- © 
ble” on the other. What we are here faulting, comes 
under neither of these heady but is an abandoning 
of the foundation. 
If there be any who make inroads on the order 
of the worship of our church, under the notion that 
they : are thereby rising toa greater height of evan- 
gelism; we guard against being understood, as in any 
_ degree favouring, such disorder. On the contrary, — 
if it were given way to, there would follow the des- 
truction of the characteristic features of our church, 
inherited by her from her mother church of En- ~ 
gland. It is the desire of the hearts of your bishops, aaa 
to perpetuate the principles of that church as clearéd >: 
from antiscriptural inventions at the reformation: — , - ‘, 
and in this design,‘we invite the co-operation of: all 4 
the membres ofour communion. _ rey 
wie by order of the house of bishops, 


| “WILLIAM WHITE, _ 
ace Baidig ae ecul 


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Date Due 


Library Bureau Cat. no. li3/ 


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